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SXSW review: Band of Horses
North and South Carolina-based Band of Horses took the stage at Stubb’s Thursday around 11:40, in what was one of the most anticipated sets of the evening. The band recently announced a new album, their first in quite some time. They debuted some new material on stage, much of which indicated that unlike similar indie rock darlings My Morning Jacket, who have embraced a funkier path as of late, BoH is all about the southern rock.
The band’s stage presence advanced a sort of frontier narrative, with a giant projection of old west towns and running deer above them. They opened with “Is There a Ghost,” with lead singer/guitarist Ben Bridwell, neck tattoos and all, crooning “I can sleeeeeep.” It’s a crowd favorite, and it shows off Bridwell’s unique voice, a main component of the band’s dreamlike sound, which is velvety but also desperate in a compelling way.
The new material, including “Confidence,” was decidedly more upbeat and positive than the songs that have made the band semi-famous, including “Funeral.” Of course, the band played that one, with Bridwell joking, “here’s another single, I think.” It’s their biggest hit, and they nailed it, the crowd jumping in unison when the band exploded into the hard rock chorus. If there’s anything negative to say about the set, it’s that it was way two short—they probably could have played for another hour without any complaints from the audience.
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